Danbury eliminates Ludlowe from Class LL boys soccer

Reid L. Walmark

Updated 10:39 pm, Thursday, November 7, 2013

The Falcons talk things over just before the second-half kickoff on Thursday, Nov. 7 in a CIAC Class LL boys soccer tournament second-round match at Taft Field in Fairfield. Fairfield Ludlowe was eliminated from the state playoffs by Danbury 1-0.
Photo: Reid L. Walmark

The Falcons talk things over just before the second-half kickoff on...

FAIRFIELD -- The Falcons probably figured if they kept the pressure on in the second half as they did in the scoreless first half Thursday afternoon, they'd likely net a goal and move on in the CIAC Class LL boys soccer tournament. But they weren't playing in a vacuum. Fairfield Ludlowe was facing a stubborn opponent.

Danbury, the Falcons' foe, had made its own plans during halftime and came out with a purpose for the final 40 minutes at Taft Field in Fairfield. The Hatters produced the second half's lone goal for a 1-0 second-round victory and a spot in the quarterfinals Saturday at Glastonbury.

Danbury senior Jonathan Jamett accepted a clever feed from junior Esteban Vazquez in the 11th minute of the second half. Jamett chipped the ball over Fairfield Ludlowe sophomore goalkeeper Frederick Meagher before the goalie could challenge him. Then everyone watched as the ball continued to arc before beginning its descent. Was it knocked barely over the goal, or was it perfectly placed?

Jamett's shot broke the plane of the goal line just under the crossbar. That shot both opened and closed the scoring. That was Danbury's second and final shot on goal for the match.

Danbury, seeded 21st despite three regular-season losses, improved to 7-3-8 to forge a pairing against No. 4 Glastonbury (15-2-3). The fifth-seeded Falcons finished at 13-5-1, completing what coach Kevin O'Hara said was the best season of the 10 he has been at the helm.

"That seems to be our nemesis here late in the season, not being able to finish," O'Hara said. "In the first half, we had a bunch of quality (scoring) chances. Danbury regrouped for the second half. In the second half, we did not get our composure. We played extremely well in the first half. In the second half, we were OK.

"It's hard to swallow. We're disappointed," O'Hara said.

"It was not much of an upset," said Danbury coach Sean Colley, whose team tied Ludlowe 1-1 on Oct. 17 in Fairfield. "You know in the FCIAC, from No. 1 down all the way to No. 10, 12, it's pretty even. They definitely had more possessions in the first half, and we're a team that likes to have possession. At halftime, I asked them what they were seeing on the field, and they said, `We've got to keep the ball more,' They're an awesome defensive team; we're not bad ourselves."

In the first half, after a cautious, respectful opening eight minutes, Ludlowe began to dominate. It outshot the Hatters by 8-1. The Falcons kept Danbury goalie Ian Shannon, a sophomore, quite busy. But they could not solve Danbury's defense, which averages 1.11 goals allowed per match. Danbury has yielded only four goals in its last six games.

Ludlowe registered three shots in the second half.

"Ian was great in the first half," Colley said. "He did what he had to do in the second half."

Danbury knew the Falcons' tendencies and focused on not being beaten in the air. Soon after playing Ludlowe last month, Colley moved senior Michael Kline from central defender to the left side where he could contribute to the offense more. Colley said Kline played a role in the possession that led to Jamett's chip shot goal.

Ludlowe's attempts to rally were hampered by the roster's lack of experience, O'Hara said. Though eight players were in their last games as Falcons, another 18 are eligible to return in 2014. "We have a lack of experience in the big games," O'Hara said.